Field of 9 goes for Sunland Derby win with trip to Kentucky Derby on the line

The last time Rebranded was seen running on Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino soil, the 3-year-old son of Tiznow finished second in the Mine That Bird Derby on Feb. 22.

The backers of Rebranded have high hopes that he will win the 12th running of the Grade III, $800,000 Sunland Derby and earn the 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

"Training has gone really well for Rebranded and he'll have the blinkers on for the first time, which could help him focus," said Justin Evans, who has dominated the win column at Sunland this season. "He's had two races at this track and he's run well. He won the Riley Allison and then ran a great second last time out."

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This is Evans' first Sunland Derby, which is contested at 1 1/8th miles, and Rebranded was given 12-1 odds in the morning-line. Jockey Ry Eikleberry remains aboard Rebranded, who ran his first four races on the East Coast.

Eikleberry is Sunland's top jockey and has teamed up with Evans for many wins during the current meet.

"Being here and knowing the track certainly helps," Eikleberry said. "We'll take our best shot at the win and hopefully we can get the win and go to Kentucky. Justin has trained him great for this race."

But Rebranded will face a stiff test from eight rivals. Some of horse racing's very best trainers and jockeys will be here. Trainer Todd Pletcher brings in the talented Commissioner and Global Strike, while trainer Bob Baffert brings in 5-2 morning-line favorite Midnight Hawk as well as Chitu, who is 4-1 in the morning-line. Both of Baffert's horses have won twice.

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"The Sunland Derby is an important race," Baffert said. "It has grown in significance over the years and this year it has some good horses again. Midnight Hawk is running good and Chitu has potential."

Commissioner is likely Pletcher's best hope to win. Commissioner is the second morning-line favorite at 7-2 and owns two wins and a second in four starts.

Bourbonize, Garen, Tanzanite Cat and Lawly's Goal round out the field. Bourbonize owns two wins, Garen broke his maiden impressively on Feb. 17 at Santa Anita, Tanzanite Cat is a talented Florida-bred shipping in from Oaklawn Park and Lawly's Goal is stakes placed.

"It's a good field," said Peter Miller, who trains Garen and is a top notch trainer in California. "We looked around and thought this would be a good spot for Garen. It's a chance for him to build on his last race. We're eager to see how he does against this field."

Among the top jockeys in the nation who will ride Sunday include Martin Garcia aboard Chitu, Mike Smith aboard Midnight Hawk, Javier Castellano aboard Global Strike, John Velazquez is aboard Commissioner and Victor Espinoza is aboard Garen. Smith, Garcia and Espinoza are all past winners of the Sunland Derby.

"I'm excited to be back and running in the Sunland Derby," said Smith, who grew up in Southeastern New Mexico. "It's gonna be a good race. There are a lot of good Kentucky Derby prep races and this is another good one for so many to try and qualify."

Sunday's Sunland Derby is expected to start at 5:40 p.m. There are 12 races in all, including the Sunland Oaks, the Bill Thomas Memorial Stakes, the Harry Henson Handicap, the New Mexico Breeders' Oaks and the New Mexico Breeders' Derby.